Cookies, Coleslaw and…

For a change not a post about food, unless reading this book is food for thought.
From Santa Claus (after the Dutch folklore saint Sinterklaas) and his sleigh (the pronunciation of the Dutch slee is almost identical) to a dumbhead talking poppycock, but also the dollar (named after de daalder) and Yankees (Jan Kees Dutch first [...]

Cookies, Coleslaw and Stoops…

From Santa Claus (after the Dutch folklore saint Sinterklaas) and his sleigh (the pronunciation of the Dutch slee is almost identical) to a dumbhead talking poppycock, the contributions of the Dutch language to American English are indelibly embedded to some of our most vernacular terms and expressions. In Cookies, Coleslaw and Stoops, the renowned linguist [...]

Books, wonderfull books…

The first Amsterdam Book Night (Amsterdam Wereld Boekenstad Boekennacht) will take place on Friday March 20. Amsterdam’s major bookstores, the book market, cafes and the organization of Amsterdam World Book Capital are inviting all book lovers to come join in the fun till 23.00 hrs. There will be lots going on around Amsterdam’s Book Heart, [...]

Books, wonderful books…

I spend it all, my obscene amount of book-vouchers. But I think it was worth it, among others I bought 3 books on Amsterdam just to add to the other 15 I already have, but these are different…
Amsterdam Sketchbook
The city of Amsterdam, known for its fascinating history, captivating architecture and its collection of art by [...]

All quite on the Western front…

I went to bed early on Thursday night, or early in my terms. Earlier that day I finished a book and I had another one waiting for me, and the best place to read… is in bed.
So 11pm was almost upon me and off I went starting on ‘Condor One’ by John Simpson. Normally I [...]

Introducing: Kent & Jamie

Kent & Jamie is written by Josh Thomas, author of Murder at Willow Slough (2000) and Andy’s Big Idea (2002). I came into contact with Josh after reading ‘Slough’, a lot of email contact followed and what started as a “Birthday Card” for Andy’s Big Idea  turned into a cover. So I can say without [...]

Books, wonderful books…

Today was the Worlds Largest Book-market in the center of Amsterdam. 1,000 stalls over a length of 4 kilometer. Of course I visited this event which started on Geldersche Kade and Nieuwmarkt, all the way over Sint Anthoniesbreestraat, Zuiderkerkhof, Jodenbreestraat, Waterlooplein and along the river. On every subject there where books for sale, one street [...]

Need something to read?

On May 18, 2008, Amsterdam’s historic centre is the location of the world’s biggest book market. No fewer than 1,000 stalls with books will wind through the city centre. The World Book Market is being held in the context of Amsterdam World Book Capital, a title of great distinction that has been awarded to the [...]

Soakin’…

For a change it’s not soaking wet but we can soak up some sunshine. Yesterday it was the first spring-like day of this year, temperatures rising till 13°C / 55°F, clear blue skies and a little wind. The forecast for today and tomorrow are the same, maybe the temperature will even go up a bit [...]

The day after, or better yet almost…

two days after…
Just after midnight in the early hours of December 25, my big Sis called me to congratulate me on becoming 52, her first question was; “How does it feel?” I can tell you it feels the same as turning 50, 51 or even 49. During the morning and the first part of the afternoon family and [...]

Day eightteen…

The painter has just left the apartment, so now the ceiling and the windows on the balcony side are back in their original color. They even sprayed some fixing before painting so the water stains will not come back.
Two out of three projects are done now, what’s being left is the laminate floor covering, the [...]

And the winner is…

It started in the 13th Century as a Monastery church of the Dominican Order in Maastricht. When the French entered the city in 1795 it stopped being a church and had several other functions, one of them a bicycle shed.
Now it is mostly restored and a bookstore and espresso bar opened its doors in this [...]

“BOOKS FOR SALE !!!”

I have tried to make an account at Amazon in the UK [and the US and Germany] to sell some of my books, they advertise you can do so but they forget to tell you that you need a bank account or a credit card in that country. Since I am based in the Netherlands I also [...]

New Food Fair

Knowing that I can not eat more than I can chew I went today to the New Food Fair on Haarlemmerdijk and Haarlemmerstraat in the center of town. Both streets are well known for their wide range of restaurants but also for their specialized food shops. I only needed some bread and a small [...]

Longest running theater production…

The “Gysbreght van Aemstel” play has been written by Joost van den Vondel, one of Hollands best known playwright and poet, nick-named Prince of Poets, on the occasion of the opening of the first stone city theater of Amsterdam. The first production should took place on December 26, 1637, but it was postponed to January [...]

The Blogger’s Book Club

A few months ago I joined the Blogger’s Book Club, 15+ people with an interest in books in the broadest sense of the word.
Yesterday I received the book we are reading at the moment, we made the ‘mistake’ of selecting a book by Kurt Vonnegut, who died just before the selection-date, so most of his [...]

Books, books, books

Yani and Tom started it all.
Contemporary, Historical, or Paranormal?
Definitely not paranormal. I do like contemporary and I like historical [and historical mixed with fiction]
Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror?
Preferably none of the above, but if I have to choose Sci-Fi.
Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?
I do not mind paying a bit extra for a [...]

Currently reading

A two thousand year old mystery, a pulse-pounding race against time…
Jerusalem, 70 AD. As the legions of Rome besiege the Holy Temple, a boy is given a secret that he must guard with his life…
Southern Germany, December 1944. Six emaciated prisoners drag a mysterious crate deep into a disused mine. They too give their lives [...]

Once I put it down, I just couldn’t pick it up

It is the list no author would ever want to be seen on — the books you bought but just could not finish.
Vernon God Little, by D. B. C. Pierre, won the Man Booker Prize three years ago and sold 620,000 copies in Britain alone, but it tops the top ten list of unfinishable novels.
According [...]

I feel the love…

I know, I know it’s Valentine’s Day, which is just a way for commerce to get rid of red roses, chocolat and ‘romantic’ dinners. And NO, I didn’t get a card or cards just as I haven’t had all those other years. Maybe it has to do with sobriety of the Dutch, we have a [...]